Multiple chair lifter



Jan. 28, 19.69 J. K. ALANA ET Al.

MULTIPLE CHAIR LIFTER INVENTORS James K. Alana Dan/'el K. Him/a Filed Dec. l5, 1966 Y ATTORNEY Jan. 28, 1969 J. K. ALANA ET Al. 3,424,327

MULTIPLE CHAIR LIFTER Filed Deo. 15, 196e sheet 2 of s INVENTORS James K. A/ana Daniel K. Hrafa ATTORNEY Jan. 28, 1969 J. K. lALANA ET AL 3,424,327

MULTIPLE CHAIR LIFTER Filed Dec. 15, 196e sheet 3 of s INVENT ORS James K. Alana Dan/'el K. H/'ma www ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,424,327 MULTIPLE CHAIR LIFTER James K. Alana, 2268 Tantalus Drive, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813, and Daniel K. Hirata, 626-A Kaulani Way, Kailua, Hawaii 96734 Filed Dec. 15, 1966, Ser. No. 601,892 U.S. Cl. 214-620 Int. Cl. B66f 9/ 06; B62b 1/00, 1/06 8 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE An object of this invention is to provide a chair lifting device which may be made in a small size for manually lifting and carrying a small multiple chair, such as one having about seven seats, more or less, and which may also be made in a large size, for cooperation with a powered lift fork, for lifting and positioning a large multiple chair, such as one having fourteen seats, more or less.

A further object of this invention is to provide a chair lifting device, particularly in the large size, useful in setting up multiple chairs on a plurality of ascending levels of risers, eliminating the present method of manually carrying a few individual chairs up each riser to the topmost vacant level and then locking the individual chairs together in the crowded area of a single riser level into a multiple chair, in the conventional manner, and instead using the manual labor for locking the chairs together on a large at floor area, with plenty of working space, then picking up the multiple chair on the chair lifting device of this invention, in cooperation with a lift fork, then depositing the multiple chair in proper position on vthe upper risers, leaving an aisle in the risers while the multiple chairs are being positioned on the upper risers, then filling in the aisle with appropriate lower risers, and proceeding progressively down the levels of the risers until completion.

In brief, the invention consists of a multiple chair lifting device which may be made in various sizes. In a small size, for handling three to seven seated multiple chairs, it includes a manual truck to which it is attached, and in a large size, for much longer row multiple chairs, such as fourteen seated chairs, it is insteadprovided with tubular boxes for receiving the tines of a powered lift fork.

The device includes a transversely extending frame, made preferably of meta-l angle members, with a plurality of intermediate connecting angle members, and triangularly extending brace rods, a plurality of chair supporting metal arms extending forward from the bottom side of the frame, their upper chair supporting surfaces being padded with wood cleats or other suitable means to prevent scratching, and the forward face of the rectangular frame, against which the multiple chair will lean when being carried, is also padded by a panel of wood or composition such as Masonite or other suitable padding material. The frame is supported at its center area by a rearwardly extending support rrieans, including leg members extending rearwardly and brace means between the rear ends of the legs and the frame. In the large size, for cooperation with `a lift fork, the leg members have tubular box means thereon for receiving the lift fork tines therethrough, and the brace means are brace rods connecting 3,424,327 Patented Jan. 28, 1969 ice the ends of the legs to the upper and lower ends of the frame. In the smaller size, the brace means include brace members extending from the rear end of the legs to the frame, and also a manual handle extending further upwardly, as well as a wheel and axle lmounted on each end of each leg member, the forward wheels being larger and mounted for rotation in a fixed plane, while the rear small wheels are swivelly mounted, which thus provide a 4built-in manual truck.

In either case, the individual chairs may be brought to the floor o n dollies, as usual, and then assembled into multiple ch-airs of desired length by locking them together in the conventional manner, after which the -bottom of the seats, which are left in folded up position lduring the entire operation while being carried, may be marked with chalk, if desired, to show their location. In the large size, the fork tines are then inserted through the tine receiving tubular boxes, and the lift fork is then manipulated to insert the forwardly extending arms under the vindividual seats of the multiple chair, the padding on the arms protecting the bottom of the chair against scratching, and the chair is then tilted forward by the fork tines to rest against the padding on the face of the frame, and the chair is then lifted and carried to the desired location on each successively lower riser level, an aisle left for the lift fork being filled in as the upper levels are provided with the chairs.

The small size, with the built-in manual truck, is used by moving it forward against a small multiple chair to insert its arms under the chair seats, then tilted back to lean the multiple chair against the padded frame and carried to the desired location and deposited there.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with 4the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one 4form of the multiple chair lifting device of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view on line 2-2 of FIG. l.

FIG. 3 is a rear view on line 3 3 of FIG. l.

FIG. 4 is a sectional, partly broken away, view 0n line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional detail view on line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the multiple chair lifting device of this invention as operatively supported -by a powered lift fork.

FIG. 7 is a side plan view of a modified form of this multiple chair lifting device including a built-in manual truck.

FIG. 8 is a side plan view of the form of FIG. 7 carried on its four wheels.

FIG. 9 is a top plan View of FIG. 7.

There is shown at 10 the form of this multiple chair lifting device which is operated by and cooperates with a conventional powered lift fork 12. At 14 is shown another form of the multiple chair lifting device of this invention which is provided with a built-in manual truck 16. Most details of both forms are identical, .except as to size, the larger form at 10 being adapted for lifting multiple chairs having fourteen seats, more or less, while the smalleiform at 14 is intended for multiple chairs of three to seven seats, more or less. Where details are identical, the same reference numbers and description apply to both forms.

In either form, this device 10 or 14 serves to lift, carry and deposit a multiple chair, that is, a number of conventional auditorium folding chairs locked or secured together in a conventional manner, for use either on a at oor or on series of risers of progressively different levels. Such a multiple chair is shown at 18, and as usual has front legs 20, back legs 22, hinged seats 24 and may or may not have, arm rests 26.

The device includes a transversely extending rectangular frame 28 from which a plurality of multiple chair lifting and carrying arms 30 extend forwardly, spaced apart a distance approximately that of the spacing of the individual chairs, so that the arms may be placed under the seats 24 and thus support the weight of the multiple chair. In addition, means 32 extending rearwardly from the frame 28, are provided for supporting the frame 28 when placing the arms in supporting position beneath the individual seats for lifting and positioning the multiple chair 18.

The rectangular frame 28 is made up of two long parallel channel or angle metal members 34 and 35, secured together by a plurality of short, connecting channel or angle metal members 36, one at each end of the frame and others at intermediate position to provide sufficient strength thereto. In addition, triangle forming brace rods 38 extend at angles and are tied to the frame members 34 and 35 in any suitable manner, as by spot welding, for instance, thus providing a strong, rigid frame of comparitively light weight. The forwardly extending arms 30, preferably in the form of channel members, are padded on their top surface by cleats 40 of wood or other suitable material so that they will not scratch the multiple chair 18 when in lifting and carrying position. Similarly, the forward facing upper portion of the frame 28 is padded by a panel 42 of suitable material, such as Masonite composition or wood or the like, likewise to prevent scratching when the arm rests 26 are tilted thereagainst, or when other parts of the chair, if no arm rests be present, are in contact therewith.

The frame support means 32 extends rearwardly from the frame 28. In the lift fork operated form 10, the means 32 includes fork tine receiving tubular boxes 44, aligned at each end of and mounted on channel or angle members 46 extending rearwardly at right angles from the mid area, of the lower long frame member 35, in properly spaced apart relation corresponding to the spacing of the fork tines 48. A hypotenuse channel or angle member 50 connects the ends of each rearwardly extending box supporting right angle member 46 to the top long frame member 34. A frace rod 52 extends from the end of each right angle member 46 to the end of the lower long frame member 35, and another brace rod 54 extends from the same end of each right angle member 46 to the end of the upper long frame member 34, thus providing a very :rigid and strong supporting means 32.

In operation with this form, which is shown as having fourteen seat carrying arms 30, the lift fork 12 is actuated by the operator to insert the fork tines 48 into the boxes 44, thus making the device substantially a `rigid part of the lift fork 12. After the individual chairs have been locked together or secured together in a conventional manner, the device 10 is manipulated to place the padded arms 30 under the seats 24 and lifted and tilted slightly, causing the multiple chair 18 to tip gently forward causing the chair arms 26 to rest on the padded face 42 of the lifting device 10. The lift fork 12 is then manipulated to place the multiple chair 18 in the desired location. When being placed on risers, an aisle may be left forwardly of the top three or four riser levels until the top levels are filled, then the aisle is partly filled, and afterward, completely filled. In using this device, the chairs are assembled together on the iioor, instead of having to be carried manually up the risers and assembled in the crowded space of a single riser level. Time studies have indicated a saving of 29% in labor for assembling and dismantling risers and chairs.

In the manual truck form 14, the frame support 32 includes a U-shaped manual truck handle 56, slightly curved rearward adjacent the -handle bight 58 which is secured across the rear mid portions of the rectangular frame 28. At the bottom of the handle 56, below the frame 28, rearwardly extending arms 60 and upwardly extending stanchions 62 form a triangle with the handle 56. An axle 64 at the front end of each arm journals a large wheel 66 in a fixed plane, and at the rear end of each arm 62 a small wheel 68 is swivelly mounted on an axle 70, thus providing a manual truck for carrying and positioning the multiple chair 18 of a small size, having seven chair supporting arms 30 for lifting, carrying and positioning a multiple chair up to seven seats long.

In operation, the chair lifter 14 is manually manipulated to insert the chair supporting arms 30 under the multiple chair seats as shown in FIG. 7, and then tilted to the position in FIG. 8 for movement to any desired position.

A bstract of drawings In the drawings, like numbers refere to like parts, and for the purposes of explication, set forth below. are the numbered parts of the improved multiple chair llfter:

lll-large size chair lift device 12-powered lift fork 14-small size chair lift device 16-built-in manual truck 18-multiple chair 20-front chair legs 22-back chair legs 24--chair seats Ztl-rectangular frame 30-chair lifting and carrying arms 32-rear means for supporting frame 28 34-long upper angle member of frame 28 35-lower angle member of frame 28 36-short connecting vertical members of frame 28 38-triangle brace rods 40-wood cleat pads on 30 42-Masonite" pad on 28 44-tine receiving boxes 46-rewardly extending box supporting arms of 10 48-fork tines Sil-hypotenuse angle member end of 46 to upper 34 52brace rod end of 46 to end of lower 35 54-brace rod end of 46 to end of upper 34 56-U-shaped, curved truck handle SS-handle bight 60--rearwardly extending arms in 32 of 14 62-upwardly extending stanchions 64-front wheel axles 66-front wheels 68-swivelled rear wheels 70-rear axles It is yunderstood that the term angle members also includes channel members inasmuch as every channel member is also an angle member.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. A multiple chair (18) lifting device (10 or 14) for use with a fork lift (12) comprising a transversely extending rectangular frame (28), a vertical frame pad (40) thereon, a plurality of at least three spaced apart arms (30) secured to and extending forwardly from said vertical frame (28), frame supporting receiving means (44 and 46) secured at approximately the mid area of said frame (28) for attachment to the fork lift (12), in combination with a multiple chair (18) comprising a plurality of at least three transversely spaced individual chairs (20, 22, 24 and 26) secured together as a unit (18), said spaced apart arms (30) extending in supporting position beneath transverse members (24) of said individual chairs, said chairs resting against said Vertical frame pad (40), for lifting and carrying said multiple chair (18) to place the same in seating position, said -rnultiple chair (18) being supported on the lifting device or 14) with said transverse members (24) on the arms and with the upper portion of said chairs supported in engagement with the vertical frame pad (40), the chair legs (20, 22) being in open operating position whereby they may be stably deposited on the iloor.

2. The chair lifting device of claim 1, said rectangular frame comprising a pair of parallel angle members (34 and 35) secured together by a plurality of connecting right angle members (36), some (FIG. 2) of said connecting angle members (36) being located at points intermediate the ends of said pair of parallel angle members (34 and 35).

3. The chair lifting device of claim 2, and padding means (42) secured transversely along the forward face of said frame, and padding means secured along the top surface of each forwardly extending arm (30).

4. The chair lifting device of claim 2, and angularly extending brace rods (38) secured to said pair of parallel angle members (34 and 35) between adjacent connecting angle members (36).

5. The chair lifting device of claim 2, said mid area secured means (32) comprising a pair of rearwardly extending arm members (46 or 60) secured to a lower portion (FIG. 4 or FIG. 8) of said rectangular frame (28), and brace members (50, 52, 54 or 62) securing rearwardly extended points of said rearwardly extending arm members (46 or 60) to said frame (28).

6. The chair lifting device of claim 5, and tubular box means (44) on said rearwardly extending arm members (46) for receiving the supporter tines (48) of a lift fork (12) therein.

7. The chair lifting device of claim 6, said arm securing brace members (52, 54, 56) extending to upper and lower end portions of said frame (28).

8. The chair lifting device of claim 5, and wheel and axle means (64) secured to the forward end of said rearwardly extending arm members in a iixed plane, swivel wheel (68) and axle (70) means secured to the rear end of said arm members (60), and manual handle means (56) extending upwardly therefrom providing a built-in manual truck (14) therefor.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,319,456 5/1943 Hazen 214-620 2,621,943 12/1952 Smith 214--372 2,675,139 4/ 1954 Mercier et al. 3,050,206 8/ 1962 McCracken 214-62() 3,199,692 8/1965 Lebre 214--620 GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Etxamz'ner.

F. E. WERNER, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

